Device for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory passages



July 7, 1964 H. HIRTZ ETAL 3,139,885

DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY PASSAGES Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1964 H. HIRTZ ETAL 3,139,885

DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY PASSAGES Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,139,885 DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY PASSAGES Hans Hirtz, Alteburger Strasse 11, Cologne, Germany, and Hanns Joachim Hirtz, Durener Strasse 211, Coiogne-Lindenthal, Germany Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,196 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 20, 1961 2 Claims. (Cl. 128212) The present invention relates to a device for treating diseases of the'respiratory passages with warm air and including an arrangement for feeding in medicaments so that passages of warm air from the heating device pass through the space providing the medicaments to the inhaler which is to be placed over the face of the patient. More particularly, the invention has reference to an improved mask apparatus which consists in the use of one or several inside walls surrounding the heating element, in which the inside walls together with the outside walls together with the heating element form annular chambers through which the air which is to be warmed will flow therethrough to a medicament chamber having direction sensitive valves at the entry and exit thereof.

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 773,069, filed November 10, 1958, for Inhalator, now Patent No. 3,045,067.

An object of the invention is a further development of the device on which the parent application, above mentioned, is based, and consists in a mask apparatus having a reversing valve arranged above the space for infeeding of the medicaments, and positioned adjacent to and in front of the inhaler. By the fulfillment of this objective, there is achieved by the infeeding of the inhalation material an improved mixing of the air current with the inhalation material without loss of heat and inhalation material. The heated air, as it passes from a heating chamber through a reversing valve to the mixing chamber, is capable of flowing around the carrier of the medicaments, which is preferably in the shape of a small tube equipped with numerous perforations, so that the mixed air currents pass through a distal reversing valve that engages a face engaging piece so that the mixed air may be used by patients to which the inhalator 'is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which it is possible to use medicaments that have a higher evaporation rate as well as having a higher temperature of evaporation.

An improved advantage over devices of the prior art is achieved by placing the reversing valve above the space which'feeds the medicament to the heated air, and this allows that the space which is in connection with the inhaler face piece may be kept very small without using substantial quantities of heated air and medicament during exhalation of the patient, and further that no large quantities of used air or unused combined heated air remain within the inhaler and the mask device by the arrangement of the reversing valves of the invention. This feature of the invention also prevents inhalation materials emanating during exhalation from the medicament carrier to escape from the device through the escape valve in the face piece.

Another object of the present invention is to provide reversing valves between the feed-in and feed-out of heated air in the medicament chamber so that there is a decrease in the use of the medicament.

A further object of the invention is to provide a face mask using an inhaler apparatus that may be used by any of several patients without the requirement of sterilizing the entire instrument. In the device of the invention, merely the face mask which is detachably connected to Patented July 7, 1964 since the exhaled air of the patient comes into contact with the reversing valve placed above the medicament feed-in chamber. In no case is there any mixing of exhaled air with fresh air or heated air of the instrument.

An important advantage of the present invention is that almost exclusively the unused air heated and mixed with the medicament will be at the complete disposal of the patient when inhaling to an even greater degree than has been possible in prior art devices.

An added advantage of the invention is that the space reserved for the feed-in of the medicament is separated from time to time from the space or annular chambers used for heating the air so that warm air which flows into the medicament space has sufiicient time between each individual breath to absorb medicament into the air.

Another feature of the invention is that it achieves control of the air temperature in the space where the medicament mixes with the heated air, and is generally higher than the temperature that is to be inhaled by the patient so that medicaments can be used which have an evaporation temperature higher than usual.

A further object of the invention is to provide fresh air which is fed into an inhalator that can be adjusted according to ones selection, and is capable of being regulated smoothly, easily, and simply for the control of the temperature of the air which is inhaled by the patient. The temperature of the heating element may have an upper and lower limit for heating the air that is eventually breathed by the patient. By proper enlargement or diminishment of an opening, the patient is able to regulate the temperature and volume drawn through the instrument. An upper limit of temperature found to be capable of bringing about sufficient evaporation of the inhalation medicament is C.

The invention will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section corresponding to the line IIII according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an inside view partially in section of a mask; and I FIG. 4 shows the mask according to FIG. 3 as viewed from the point of view of the patient.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an implement 8 consisting of a mask 10 which is adaptable to being placed on the face of a patient, and is constructed of silicone, neoprene, or similar plastic materials which are easily sterilizable. The mask 10 has an opening forming an annular roll 12 which slidably engages a groove 14 which mates with a correspondingly engageable groove 16 of a cylindrical element medicament supply chamber 18. I

The cylindrical element 18 is provided with an opening 20 through which a ceramic or clay tubule 22 is engaged. The tubule may be made of plastic and is equipped with perforations that are inserted so that the tubule has its front end engaging a peg 24, which is part of a closure cap that threadably engages a connector 28. The cylindrical element 18 houses the medicament supply tubule, and the chamber is connected through a bayonet catch 30 with a housing 37 for providing the addition of heat to air which passes through the housing. There is shown above and below the medicament supply chamber of the cylindrical element 18 a pair of reversing valves 34, 36 arranged so that the valves are opened or lifted off their respective valve seats with every breath of the patient for opening the passageway of heated air to the patient, and are closed upon exhalation of the patient.

Air which is to be heated within the housing 37 first enters into an annular chamber 40 through the deep recessed openings 42, 42 and then the air is diverted at the upper end of the annular chamber 40 through openings 44 in an inner housing 32 into another annular chamber 46 located on the inside of the annular chamber 40 and within inner housing 32. In this annular chamber 46, the air moves downwardly as indicated by the arrow, and finally rises upwardly and centrally in the middle of the housing so that the air passes inside of an annular-shaped heating element 48. The heating element accomplishes the operation of heating by energization of a heating filament winding 50 so that the peripheral walls of the respectiv annular chambers are heated.

The heating element and the heating filament Winding are shown as cylindrically configured, and may include a thermostat 52 which is arranged so that it is directly influenced by heated air for interrupting the current supply to the filament winding as soon as the heated air exceeds a tempterature determined by the selling of the thermostat. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that the thermal element of the thermostat reacts to differences in temperature of from 2 to 3 C.

The annular chambers 40, 46 together with heating element 48 and filament winding 50 are separated structurally from the chamber in the cylindrical element 18 so that the implement 8 consists of separately assembled individual parts which are interfitted one into the other.

Regulation of the temperature of the air which is to be inhaled by the patient is accomplished through a slotshaped opening 56 which is positioned over the valve 34 in the wall of the cylindrical element 18. The opening 56 may be closed by means of a slide 58. The slide has a protrusion 60 which extends approximately radially thereto and extends through a slot in the wall of the cylindrical housing 18 so that it may be grasped readily without difficulty by the patient or other operator. By moving the protrusion 60 the slide 58 which has been constructed with a window 62 will change its position. Moving the protrusion 68 in the direction of the arrow 64, the opening 56 is thus closed so that no air from the outside of the implement 8 passes through the opening and the window in the slide 58 of the mask 10. Air which has been drawn into the mask 18 has the temperature to which the thermostat 52 has been adjusted. If this temperature, however, becomes too hot for the patient, then the patient may open the openings 56 either more or less by moving the protrusion 60 in a direction opposite to the arrow 64 so that now air is able to enter the mask 18 to cool the total temperature effect of the air depending upon the extent to which the opening has been opened. Thus the patient is able to adjust to a temperature of from 38 to 52 C. at all times during the therapy when the mask is on the patient. Positioned above the reversing valve 34 and along the peripheral edges of the medicament supply chamber, there is arranged a sieve plate 68 formed as a result of numerous perforations 70. Connecting channels 72 are provided for fresh air entering into the mask through the opening 56 and the window 62 of slide 58.

The clay tubule or plastic tubule 22 may contain an inhalation substance or material that is either in a solid or liquid form. In cases where the inhalation material is liquid, it is then preferable to provide a wick or similar device in the clay tubule. By choosing the type of clay or plastic tubule and particularly by selecting the grain sizes of the particles connected with one another through centering, one is able to construct or obtain the desired pore size. The total surface may be changed by a different selection of the diameter of the clay tubule or otherwise may be adjusted by a partial coating or covering of the surface thereof which would close up some of the pores.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the exhalation valve 70 located at a point in the mask which is substantially opposite to the nose of the patient, and the valve seat '72 of the valve 70 is shown in closed position. The valve 70 consists of a thin, rubber or elastic disk which is equipped with a center bore hole as shown. As the valve is moved, its central portion is retained in position by a button 74 which is knotted from the valve seat 72.

An edge 76 of a portion of the mask which adheres to the face of the patient is constructed so that it is turned back and another edge portion of the mask forms a chin support 78. A nose support 80 is constructed in the form of a bridge and is arranged to connect the turned up edges 38 of the mask.

The cross-sections of the openings 44, 46 are kept small for the passage of air which is to be heated. The entire cross-section of the openings is designed in accordance with the nose openings of the patient.

An ultraviolet burner 82 is positioned below the cylindrical heating elements 48, 50 for accomplishing a sterilization and ozonization of the air which passes in the environment thereto. The electrical consumption of the device is approximately 25 watts, and it may include a small condenser 84 for eliminating any TV or shortwave radio disturbances.

The mask may be constructed of those materials mentioned above including rubber, and by the construction of turned up edges and a nose support forming a bridge connecting the turned up edges there is provided a firm holding of the mask onto the face of the patient to assure that the mask will adhere closely to the face and eliminate any infiltration of air into the medicated airflow in the mask. Further, by avoiding the admission of air through leaks around the edge of the face mask, there is achieved a sensitive regulation of the temperature of the air that is to be inhaled as controlled by the thermostat and the air influx opening for the admixture of fresh air to the heated air. The valve seat in the valve arranged on the front of the mask may be constructed in one piece together with the mask, or it may be constructed and secured onto the mask, or it may be connected to the mask by vulcanization. The valve is constructed to consist of a flapper valve made of thin rubber or elastic material, a disk having an opening for mounting it which is secured in place by the button or some similar attaching element.

It should be understood that the specific apparatus herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as many changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mask for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory passages comprising a generally cylindrical housing closed at one end, a cylindrical inner housing disposed within and cooperating with said outer housing to form an annular chamber, said end defining a plurality of openings peripherally disposed about said end providing communication between ambient atmosphere and said annular chamber, a generally cylindrical heating arrangement including an electrical resistance heating element and disposed within said inner housing to form a heating chamber therebetween, openings in said inner housing to provide air passage from'said annular chamber to said heating chamber, said air passage continuing through the center of said heating arrangement to pass through the other end of said cylindrical housing, a medicament chamber secured to said cylindrical housing and connecting with said air passage of said heating arrangement, said medicament chamber having a tubule to retain inhalation medication compounds for distribution of said compounds into the heated air received from said air passage, a first flapper valve disposed at said other end of said cylindrical housing to allow passage of air from said cylindrical housing to said medicament chamber and to eliminate its return passage thereto, a flexible face engaging piece connected directly to said medicament chamber, a second flapper valve disposed adjacent an end of said medicament sage of air from said medicament chamber directly into a space defined by said face engaging piece and to eliminate its return passage thereto, an exhaust valve in the face engaging piece to allow passage of air therefrom and to eliminate its return passage, and an adjustable opening disposed between said second flapper valve and the space defined by said flexible face engaging piece for infeeding fresh air into said flexible face engaging piece.

2. A mask as claimed in claim 1 wherein a thermostat is included in said heating chamber and operatively associated with said heating element to regulate the flow of electricity thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Goldan Apr. 5, 1904 Smith May 18, 1909 Mcyenberg Apr. 26, 1921 Worn Ian. 11, 1927 Wyss July 22, 1930 -Magee May 6, 1941 Cox Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 3, 1924 

1. A MASK FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY PASSAGES COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING CLOSED AT ONE END, A CYLINDRICAL INNER HOUSING DISPOSED WITHIN AND COOPERATING WITH SAID OUTER HOUSING TO FORM AN ANNULAR CHAMBER, SAID END DEFINING A PLURALITY OF OPENING PERIPHERALLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID END PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE AND SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HEATING ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT AND DISPOSED WITHIN SAID INNER HOUSING TO FORM A HEATING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, OPENINGS IN SAID INNER HOUSING TO PROVIDE AIR PASSAGE FROM SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER TO SAID HEATING CHAMBER, SAID AIR PASSAGE CONTINUING THROUGH THE CENTER OF SAID HEATING ARRANGEMENT TO PASS THROUGH THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING, A MEDICAMENT CHAMBER SECURED TO SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING AND CONNECTING WITH SAID AIR PASSAGE OF SAID HEATING ARRANGEMENT, SAID MEDICAMENT CHAMBER HAVING A TUBULE TO RETAIN INHALATION MEDICATION COMPOUNDS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF SAID COMPOUNDS INTO THE HEATED AIR RECEIVED FROM SAID AIR PASSAGE, A FIRST FLAPPER VALVE DISPOSED AT SAID OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF AIR FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING TO SAID MEDICAMENT CHAMBER AND TO ELIMINATE ITS RETURN PASSAGE THERETO, A FLEXIBLE FACE ENGAGING PIECE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO SAID MEDICAMENT CHAMBER, A SECOND FLAPPER VALVE DISPOSED ADJACENT AN END OF SAID MEDICAMENT CHAMBER REMOTE FROM SAID FIRST FLAPPER VALVE TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF AIR FROM SAID MEDICAMENT CHAMBER DIRECTLY INTO A SPACE DEFINED BY SAID FACE ENGAGING PIECE AND TO ELIMINATE ITS RETURN PASSAGE THERETO, AN EXHAUST VALVE IN THE FACE ENGAGING PIECE TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF AIR THEREFROM AND TO ELIMINATE ITS RETURN PASSAGE, AND AN ADJUSTABLE OPENING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SECOND FLAPPER VALVE AND THE SPACE DEFINED BY SAID FLEXIBLE FACE ENGAGING PIECE FOR INFEEDING FRESH AIR INTO SAID FLEXIBLE FACE ENGAGING PIECE. 